News
Bottineau City Council holds June meeting
Scott Wagar
06/10/2014
The Bottineau City Council held its June meeting on the second of this month and discussed a number of development projects, voted on two protest hearings for rezoning and accepted a letter of resignation from one of its council members.
SCHOOL VOTE
Jason Kersten, superintendent of the Bottineau School District, presented the council with an updated plan for the next referendum vote, which will take place on, Tuesday, August 12, for improvements with the buildings.
Kersten stated that in November of 2013, the referendum vote that failed called for the construction of a new school on the east side of Bottineau for grades Pre-K through Fifth. The total cost of the school project was over $19 million with the taxpayers covering $18.9 million.
Kersten added that the district voters did not approve of the referendum primarily because of the cost of the project.
The new plan for the school board is to place all grades under one roof in the school building north of town. The plan calls for renovation projects within the present school, along with placing additions on to the building. The overall cost for the project is $16.1 million with the district’s taxpayers to cover $12.9 million of the cost.
WOLD ENGINEERING
Matt Johnson of Wold Engineering discussed future projects within the city, which included the following items:
● 2013 Sewer Expansion: Once the weather improves, the finishing work will start
● Water Loop Line (Phase II): Will start in the fall of 2014
● West Sewer Lift Upgrade Project: Parts have been ordered for the project
● Energy Impact Grant (EIG) for the Water Line Loop (Phase III) and the Lagoon Expansion Project: Waiting to hear from EIG
● Feasibility Study for a new fire hall, swimming pool and arena: Feasibility Study Representatives will meet with the Park Board on June 9
● Paving project of the Preserve Development: The city has sent a letter to Roger Riley, owner of the preserve, outlining action items he needs to complete before he can have his development paved
● Eminent Domain process due to the 2013 Sewer Expansion: City Attorney Swain Benson stated that it will take three to four months for the appraisal to be completed.
ARMORY FLOOR
In past months, there was a discussion about installing a new gym floor at the armory. The property committee study costs for replacing the floor, but made the recommendation to the council that the requests be denied.
TRAILS
Brian Knudson, director of the Bottineau Park Board, came before the council members to discuss the proposed Trail System, which calls for the three city parks in town (Tommy Turtle, McBain Park and Forestry Park) to be connected to the Highway 5 Walking/Biking Trail.
The first phase of the project will start in Forestry Park, which will begin this summer. This portion of the project, which estimated cost is $203,630, is being funded by city and park funding, along with a Recreational Trails Program grant.
One issue that came up in Knudson’s presentation was the funding of the trail system which will go from Highway 5, down Elm Street and into Forestry Park. This portion was to be covered by a grant; however, at the last moment the grant was turned down, leaving that portion of the project with no funding. The estimate cost and funding for this portion of the project in $49,200. It was decided the finance committee would hold a meeting to discuss how to fund this part of the trail system.
PROTEST HEARING
The city held two protest hearings at the June meeting. The first hearing involved Lynn Evenson and Leann Mellum to rezone land due south of the Golden Keys Apartment from an R-4 to a B-2 to allow them to construct a touchless car wash. There were no protests and the council passed Evenson and Mellum’s request.
The council also held a protest hearing for Jamie and Lori Pladson for a rezoning request, with special conditions, for property on Ohmer Street from an R-1 and R-2 to a B-1, which will allow the Pladsons to place a garage on the property so they can utilize the garage to construct their home.
A protest did take place for this request, which was led by Cathy Claeys, along with a number of residents in that neighborhood where the Pladsons want to build a home. Claeys also presented a petition to the council about the present condition of the property where the work is to take place.
Claeys, who would be the next door neighbor to the Pladsons, stated she had apprehension over what was taking place within the neighborhood concerning Pladsons’ activity, and more concern that city ordinances were not being followed.
“I own the residential home immediately north of Jamie Pladson. I am very concerned about protecting the residential integrity of our family, friendly neighborhood, which is zoned residential,” Claeys said. “It is for that reason I am officially protesting the condition of the use of the lot you as a city council have offered to this property owner. I am presenting a petition signed by myself and my neighbors, who also oppose this conditional use permit. I ask that you please take our petition seriously and help us maintain this strictly, residential purity of our neighborhood.
I have one more thing to bring up as well and that is the complaint. This complaint has also been signed by me and my neighbors,” Claeys continued to say.
“In this complaint we are officially requesting the city of Bottineau to require Jamie Pladson to come into compliance to the current and existing ordinances rules and regulations of the city. As of the enclosed pictures taken on Friday, May 9, 2014, prove there are numerous business related vehicles and pieces of equipment sitting on the lot, including two cars, two trucks, a trailer house, numerous utility trailers, various pieces of equipment, building materials, tools and junk.
“Based on my understanding of the residential zoning rules, these business related items on a empty lot are inappropriate, out of compliance with current ordinances and are an eyesore. Please give serious and thoughtful consideration to both of these matters, which is important in protecting the residential character of our family, friendly neighborhood,” she stated.
Alderman Diane Lorenz told Claeys that she was concerned about Pladson’s lot.
“Cathy, just in making sure, I am kind of with you, I don’t like it. I went and looked at the lot and made pictures myself,” Lorenz said. “I don’t know where they are going to put a house at with a garage or something in there. So, I am with you on this and I strongly oppose letting them go any further.”
Lorenz then made the motion to deny the Pladsons’ request, which was seconded by Harley Getzlaff.
Just prior going to the vote, Councilman Fred Kainz stated that although they were voting on rezoning the property with the motion, he wanted the council to understand that the looks of the property at the present moment is due to the fact the Pladsons are preparing to construct a home on the lot and need the equipment and material there to do the work they need for the job at hand.
“I am not here to change opinions, but simply just to state that the temporary structures all over the lot are related to the second one (the second complaint and utilizing of the structures and materials to build a house)” Kainz said. “It should maybe be an influence of whether they be moved or not.”
In the vote, the council denied Pladsons’ rezoning request 7 to 1 with Kainz voting against.
When it came to Claeys’ second complaint, Mayor Ben Aufforth stated that the city has ordinances on such matters, and the city would look at the property to see what can be done in accordance to the law.
The council also voted on holding a protest hearing for the official platting of the Kersten 11th Addition, along with rezoning it at the same time from “Agriculture” to “R-2” and “B2,” which the council voted in favor of with a protest hearing set for July 1 at the armory.
GATEWAY LOAN
Deana DeFoe, director of the Bottineau EDC, made a request to the city to change her Gateway Loan request made in May for the Building Blocks’ day care center for $2,500 at 3 percent interest for five years from the city’s fund to the county’s Gateway Loan fund.
RESIGNATION
The final order of business for the evening was a letter of resignation from Kainz, which the council approved and accepted. Kainz and his wife will be moving back to their hometown of Jamestown for personal reasons.